Now, we get to bring you inside! First up — the Ribbon Cutting at the Grand Opening of Tutto Gusto and Tutto Italia!

Ribbon Cutting

Mickey and Minnie showed up in their Italian costumes and celebrated along with Nick Valenti, CEO of Patina Restaurant Group; Joachim Splichal, Chef and founder of Patina; and Erin Youngs, VP of Epcot.

Chef Splichal and Nick Valenti with Epcot VP Erin Youngs

Tutto Gusto

Next, we went into Tutto Gusto — welcoming the cool atmosphere and air conditioning!

Gusto Atmosphere

As promised, Tutto Gusto — Italy’s new Wine Cellar — is themed like a wine cave inside. Large and small tables are set up around a long bar, and a wall of gorgeous wines punctuate the darkened room.

Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar

Gusto Bar

Gusto Bar

Gusto Tap

Mouth-watering meats, cheeses, and other antipasto ingredients are displayed in a refrigerator next to the bar.

Antipasti Showcase

Dessert - Cannoli

I love the creative wine bottle lighting over the main bar area!

Wine Bottle Lighting

And the wine fridges lining the far wall offer a fun and functional decor element.

Wine Fridge

Wine Fridge

The seating here at Tutto Gusto is rustic and simple. There are several tucked-away seating areas that accommodate different group sizes.

Gusto Table

Gusto Seating

Most enchanting to me is the little fireplace alcove. Decked out with comfortable sofas, upholstered stools, ceramic art decor, and the centerpiece fireplace, this spot is pure relaxation for park-goers.

Fireplace Area at Gusto

Gusto Fireplace Area

Decor at Gusto

Gusto Eats

As for food here, you’ll be treated to some impressive wines as well as small plates, meats, and cheeses.

This location will function much like Mexico’s La Cava del Tequila — reservations are not taken, and seating is first come, first served. However, servers will be around to take your order and deliver food and beverages.

During the Grand Opening event, I got chance to sample several of the rich cheeses and delicious, savory meats from the front counter; and I even had the chance to indulge in one of the cavatappi pasta dishes, complete with potatoes, pancetta, and pecorino!

The cheeses — asiago, fontina, parmigiano (oh. my. gracious — you MUST have the parmigiano), mozzarella, and more. These were outstanding; some of the best on property, easily. And coupled with the rich meats, these are truly the perfect appetizer or small meal when working your way around the World.

Cheese from Gusto

Parmigiano

My favorite meat served was the large, round Finnochiona slices in the middle! Slightly fatty and very flavorful!

Meats served at Gusto

Next up was the cavatappi. Tutto Gusto will serve several small plates, but all pasta served here will be the corkscrew-shaped cavatappi — get it? Wine bar? Corkscrew? Seriously, that’s why they chose it! 🙂

Anyway, if you have the chance to try this version — the Rughetta e Patate — jump at the chance! It’s truly incredible. You don’t NEED sauce when you have this combination of flavors…

Cavatappi Dish from Gusto

Also from Tutto Gusto, we got the chance to sample the Torte di Nocciole — a Hazelnut polenta cake with Nutella (eep!) and Piemonte cream. While I’ve been a bit off of chocolate desserts lately, the light combo of the Nutella with the Piemonte cream on the top was incredible.

True to my “you-can’t-take-her-anywhere!” nature, I scraped all of the puffy cream and Nutella off of the top before I actually ate the underside of the polenta cake. What can I say — life is short; eat frosting first.

Dessert from Gusto

Anyway, the whole cake was delicious, though the actual polenta portion was not what you’d expect. It’s not soft and mushy; instead it’s a harder “cake,” — actually more like a rice krispie treat mouth feel, believe it or not. (Forgive me Tutto Gusto — that’s the only way I can think of to describe it. ;-D) The Hazelnut-chocolate flavor is very popular right now, so it makes sense to include this dish on the menu. I liked it, but I’m eager to see what else is available for dessert (like Cannoli!).

Inside of Dessert

Tutto Gusto is going to be a showstopper. I think that the popularity of La Cava del Tequila in Mexico is the perfect example of how much Epcot visitors want a quick stopover where they can sit down, relax, enjoy a drink and a small plate of food, and then move on.

I’m loving this not-quite-counter-service / not-quite-table-service thing they have going on. It still makes you feel relaxed and rejuvenated, but you get in and out quickly.

Tutto Italia

Tutto Atmosphere

While it will look a lot like you remember. The huge Italian murals are still there, the chandeliers and ceiling beams are the same, and you can still sit in the “sun room” or in the main dining room.

Italia kept the murals!

Italia Chandelier

Italia Seating

Italia Table Seating

Italia Large Party Seating

HOWEVER! Here’s the fun part — much of the indoor seating has been turned into booths!

Italia Banquette Seating

Italia Booth Seating

Italia Booth Seating

And guests can now be seated on a lovely outdoor patio as well as in the two internal dining rooms!

Italia Outdoor Seating

Italia Sunroom Seating

The table settings are high-end, as always.

Italia Event Seating

Tutto Eats

As for food from Tutto Italia; at the Grand Opening event we got the chance to indulge in the new Polenta Valsugana dish — short ribs over polenta and fontina cheese. The short ribs were tender and delicious, and the polenta was flavorful, if a bit thick.

Polenta Aalsugana - Short Ribs

Meet the Chef

His accolades include the 1989 opening of Patina in Los Angeles which was the catalyst for the city becoming known as a global dining destination. With restaurants on both coasts, and a catering division that has served innovative meals to guests at the Primetime Emmy Awards and the royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Splichal has earned numerous awards along the way.

Inducted into the James Beard Foundation, the prestigious organization also nominated him twice as “Chef of the Year.” He has been honored as one of the nation’s “Legendary Chefs” by Bon Appétit and has appeared as a guest judge on Gordon Ramsay’s MasterChef.

When’s your next visit to Tutto Italia or Tutto Gusto? Do you like the new set-up? Any menu items you hope to try?

Thanks to Disney for inviting me to attend this Grand Opening event! While the food was complimentary, all of my opinions are my own. See more on our disclosure policy.

When I saw your photos of the seating at Tutto Gusto, the first thing I thought was that it looks a lot like La Cava del Tequila! I love this concept and can’t wait to try out the Italian version in October.

However, I’m now doubly sad that we couldn’t get an ADR at Tutto Italia, as the booths and patio seating both look appealing. Alas, it’s not like I’m never going back to WDW again, but it’s so hard to wait! 😛

Wow. You’re right, the fireplace room looks GORGEOUS. If I have one issue — and it’s really more MY issue than anything — it’s the fully-stocked bar. I’m a stickler when it comes to wine bars: They should serve wine… and that’s about it. Maybe vodka. LOL. But I can’t WAIT to try this on my next visit! (Like I needed another place to drink at Epcot!)

I can’t wait to eat at Tutto Italia again! We went there last October and my Mom got something that had Lobster over risotto and it was PHENOMENAL!!!!!! I sure hope it’s still on the menu! LOL! Thanks for the update! The rennovations look wonderful! 😉

Richard, I am interested to hear if they have a fully stocked bar too. But for a differant reason! I am not a fan of wine and not a big beer drinker, however I am a big vodka drinker. LOL! My son and daughter in law would love the beer and wines (and food) and I am hoping I will be able to get a drink too.
AJ as always great job!! I just made a reservation at Italia for Oct 28! Can’t wait.

This review goes to show you that the Disney folks know how to build on success. La Cava has been a hit, so why not build on it with this type of casual, hybrid eatery. I can ‘t wait to try it.

Tutto Italia’s outdoor patio just seems so European; I cannot wait to eat there even if I have a few quibbles with the new menu. But, then again they always have tinkered with it, so I ‘m sure everything will be great.

Tutto Gusto:
There was a fully stocked bar. They also had a wonderful selection grappa! I was wiped out from the heat so I had some soda water with bitters. The food selection was similar to the cafes they have in Italian neighborhoods. I will definitely make it a point to visit this along with Cava on all my trips.

Tutto Italiano:
The menu was AMAZING. Fresh pasta and lots of flavor. I can’t recommend it enough, and that’s saying a lot because I rarely eat hot pasta when its 85+ degrees.

Loved Tutto Gusto! Loved the wine and cheese and pasta! And with La Cava out of the food business except for chips and dips, it is the lunch spot now. But it is very very very expensive. TIW makes it tolerable…

Fantastic place! We met four disney employees taking their day off in the wine cellar.

Disneyland (California Adventure) has a wine “grotto” where they serve American wines. They should set up a wine cellar “grotto” up at America in Epcot. Serve US wine and cheeses, they have the room! Have wanted to pitch that idea for years.